Appropriations panel reduces Research Technology Park request and advances amended bill

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday amended House Bill 02/2256, a funding request tied to the Research Technology Park, lowering portions of the proposed funding and advancing the bill to the floor as amended.

Representative Steeman moved to reduce a proposed $7.5 million line to $5.0 million and to structure a second $5.0 million as a 1:1 match. Representative O'Brien seconded the amendment. Committee discussion cited the need to reduce spending amid tighter overall appropriations; Representative Murphy said cutting from $15 million to $10 million could make it harder for the project to achieve initial momentum, but members noted available funding constraints. The amendment passed on a roll call recorded as 19–3–1. The committee then voted to give the engrossed bill a do-pass recommendation as amended; that motion carried 22–0–1, and Representative Steeman agreed to carry the bill to the floor.

Committee members discussed the structure of section 2 of the bill, which contains appropriation lines, and staff confirmed the line-number changes that would result from the amendment. No additional policy changes were proposed during the committee stage; the amendment adjusted appropriation amounts to align with available funding.

Votes at a glance: amendment to reduce the line-item funding carried 19–3–1; committee do-pass on HB 02/2256 as amended carried 22–0–1.